Reservations

I agree with Ronnie and Lynda, but JSummers I don't agree with. There needs to be some sort of "common" rules and regulations on MCGs. High on the list should be to get rid of the "good old boy" system. I agree with active duty having priority, but everyone else should be on an even playing field. Some MCGs are run like that and it WORKS. By the way, I am retired DoD and my husband is active DoD.

Whew, don't shoot the messenger, pls. I agree that all MCG 's should take reservations for some portion of their sites. I do agree most sincerely that the Good Ole Boy (GOB)system should NOT have any place in MCG site reservations or stay policies. I really hate it, like all of you. But I can't agree that one system should be in place for all MCG's. Some CG for example, prioritizes the professional Mil Development school attendees at their base. Some give higher status to hospital patients/families (active duty & retirees alike). They are all so different. If I was a base commander I would want to be able to make my MCG's policy fit my base and my ideas for it's best use. I advocate giving each MWR director and base commander a call or a letter with specific examples of Good Ole Boy "goings on" at their base. I know how much time and energy that takes and we're mostly doing this for fun and don't enjoy wasting time complaining. But it has worked. Sometimes, it hasn't. I agree that the GOB system is like having "no policy" at all. Each one of us fought the GOB system in our units, companies, squadrons, etc.while we were active duty. And it was ALWAYS there, somewhere. But we sure as heck, didn't want the boys in ties, coming in from higher headquarters/command or DOD telling us that we should do it like everybody else- just cause they said so.
P.S. I think we should be careful using names in these discussion forum posts. Esp. if we disagree. It can make a simple reply seem really personal & could even scare off thinner skinned newcomers. We want everyone's opinion. We all care aout MCG's. Thnx Larry, for giving us the space to comment; agree and disagree.

P.S. I think we should be careful using names in these discussion forum posts. Esp. if we disagree. It can make a simple reply seem really personal & could even scare off thinner skinned newcomers. We want everyone's opinion. We all care about MCG's. Thnx Larry, for giving us the space to comment; agree and disagree.

Bless you, for your comment. I was a victim of a very opinionated persons comment. Larry even took it off the site. If one does not agree, so be it, but to make a personal attach, on a persons rank, and service, their comments, and negativity lowers the valuable quality of this site. I know this has been a great site with lots of information. Not liking some of the rules and how the system works is one thing, bashing the person, who voices the opinion is another.

This is a recurring topic so I have been asking MCG's why they do not take reservations and the reply I get most is "when we used to take reservations folks would not show up and did not call to say they were not coming". Other answers were "we do not have an automated reservation system and it is too much paperwork to keep track of reservations" and others had no idea why they did not take reservations. I collected this info either by calling the MCG or when I arrived there I asked them at check-in. Anyone else have feedback directly from the MCG's, it would be interesting to hear what you have been told also?

It seems that we - Americans - Just have to “coin” everything. So I think I'll start one and see what happens.

First lets add a little background. Lets call the FAMCAMP at Barksdale AFB an RV Park. Thats because it resembles one. Likewise for Naval Air Station, Lemoore, CA. Another could be at Grand Forks AFB in ND. Can not leave the Army out of this so I'll put in the RV Park at Fort Bliss, TX. And lets round it off with The Military Campground at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, FL. If - like me - you have stayed at each one of these Military Campgrounds they all have something in common. They are great places to stay! Are they hard to get into? Not if you have done your homework. Would some sort of “service wide” reservation system make them more desirable? I don't know. (15 January ... Central reservation desk clerk - “ Nothing open at Fort Bliss today but I can book you in at the AFB in Grand Forks, ND for a few weeks”. (Just funning).

Here's the “Coin”.

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“SITE GRABBER”

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That would be someone traveling around the country reserving Military Campground sites and staying until the time runs out. Kind of like a “homesteader” with a master plan. (probably have some of them out there already).

Let's see ... The golf course at NAS, Jacksonville is very successful with tee times needed every day of the week. Their RV Park is nearly full all the time. Wonder who's getting the excess ... maybe the bowling alley, nope, good leagues every night. Could it be the Marina? Nope all the slips are rented and the storage area has a waiting list. Do you really think this base commander would be receptive to change? I was in the RV Park today. It is full, as advertised.

FastEagle

QUOTE... "

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“SITE GRABBER”

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That would be someone traveling around the country reserving Military Campground sites and staying until the time runs out."

Nice one FE - Never heard that term before --

Would a whole lot rather see a 'site grabber' than a 'homesteader' -- one because the 'site grabber' is 'recreating' and traveling, and not overstaying the policy -- and usually does not put up a fence and grow a lawn.

And 'site grabber' (not that I want to be called that specific name) sounds a little more like what 'fulltiming' is all about. Traveling around to different campgrounds all year, and never staying longer than a 'sharing time-frame' length of stay.